Improvement in plug and bunch tobacco



I. EPPINGER.

Plug and Bunch Tobacco.

No. 140,020. Parentedmnewnam `'Ulvrfrnp STATES.

PATENT rrrca ISAAC EPPINGER, 0F NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN PLUG AND BUNCH TOBACCO.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 140,020, dated J une 17, 1873; application filed May 28, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, IsAAc EPPINGER, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in the Manufacture of Plug and Bunch Tobacco, of which the following is a specification:l

Tobacco, as heretofore manufactured from a rope of tobacco, twisted or coiled into bunches or plugs, has required to be preliminarily treated with a sticky and moist substance; such, v'for instance, as licorice, in order to spin it into rope form. In consequence of this the manufactured tobacco-that is, the tobacco thus put up into bunches or plugs, cannot be shipped to any considerable distance without spoiling, unless first sweated by what is known as the hot-house process, and pressed together in large masses, all of which produces deterioration in the quality of the tobacco, and detracts from its appearance as a merchantable article.

The strands of these bunches or plugs have been made up of a single mass of leaves twisted into a rope-like form, so that the interior and exterior of each strand is composed of precisely the same material in kind and quality.

In contradistinction to this, my improved mode of manufacturing plug or bunch tobacco, of the kind above stated consists in forming the stand of iiller77 tobacco, which is treated with licorice or other sweetening substance, in the usual manner. I envelop this ller in a binder,77 which is a brighter and larger leaf, and around the binder I wrap what is called ,a bright wrapper leaf,77 which is used in its natural condition without treatment. The rope thus formed is, in fact, a long iexible cigar, with a sweetened filler. It is not twisted or spun. It is dry and clean on the exterior, the binder effectually isolating and separating the filler from the exterior wrapper. It does not require to be sweated, and it can be shipped and transported for long distances by water or land conveyance without danger of molding or spoiling.

The wrapper is of little use for chewing purposes. Therefore, in order to make good chewing-tobacco, the iiller and binder should be of such proportions to the wrapper that, while the wrapper will suffice as a protector and preserver of the iiller, there will be no appreciable loss in the plug or bunch for chewing purposes.

In Figure l is shown a rope or strand such as I have described, a being the filler, b the binder, and c the wrapper. rEhe rope or strand thus made is coiled into a bunch around a central core, one end of the ropeeither single or doubledserving for the core and the remainder of the length being coiled around this coil, as represented in Fig. 2, the central core d and external coil e being thus in one piece, and constituting part of the same continuous strand or rope.

The coil or bunch thus made by hand is not, however, completed, nor is it fit for sale or use, being loose and uninished in appearance and condition.

The next step is to nishit, which is effected in the polishing-pot or nisher--a strong receptacle of suitable shape and size to contain a number of plugs, provided with a follower forced down upon the plug or plugs in the pot by hydrostatic pressure or other sufficiently powerful agency.

The bunches are first placed in the pots on end, and the follower is then forced down with great pressure upon them. After being allowed to set for about tw'enty minutes the follower is removed and the bunches are taken out and replaced in the pot on their sides and side by side and pressed again in like manner. They can then be pressed on their edges, but this, however, is optional, and not absolutely necessary, as the two pressings have compacted and solidified the plug sufficiently for all ordinary purposes.

The plug thus compacted is represented in Fig. 3, and is ready for packing.

In conclusion, I wish to state that I do not here broadly claim plug or bunch tobacco put up in coils with a central core and then subjected to pressure 5 nor do I claim, separately,

the combination of a filler, binder, and wrapv per.

What I do claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is f Plug or bunch tobacco made as herein de- In testimony whereof I have signed my name to lchis specification before two subscribing witnesses.

ISAAC EPPINGER.

Witnesses:

A. PoLLoK, THos. CARROLL. 

